Is anthropogenic climate change (what used to be known as "global warming") a problem that needs immediate and/or long term attention?
One of the most common problems each person hears on television is the issue on global warming or climate change. Many often blame global warming for all the severed natural calamities, sweltering weather changes, and the diseases that is now growing around the globe. However, environmentalists, experts, and even the conscious public have shook their heads and said that if one is to blame global warming, one should also blame themselves for the growing problem as man himself produces pollution, chemicals and destruction that further severe the effects of global warming. While there are a few who would disagree with this sentiment, some even would refute the claim and say there is no basis for such accusation; the evidences show that anthropogenic or man-made climate change exists and must be given immediate attention. Anthropogenic climate change is a problem that needs both long-term and immediate attention because action is not immediately done and regularly maintained against it, man would continue to degrade the environment despite its consequences, plunging the planet into a state of chaos as there are no safe means for food, water, shelter and living standards due to the pollution caused by man.
Global warming had been the cause for debate for many experts since the early 1970s, however, their studies had agreed with one another that anthropogenic global warming had made the highest impact to the current state of global warming at present. Pittock (2009) stated that without the collective impact of man-made global warming, global warming would have been prevented and climate change would not persist today. The studies for the past few decades, starting in 1990s with Svante Arrhenius’ discovery that man is capable of producing enough carbon dioxide capable of affecting living conditions and the globe’s natural sustenance. Studies have recorded soon after that man-made carbon dioxide is capable of accumulating itself within the ocean and in the atmosphere, causing an increase in temperature of up to 5.4º F. In the 1950s to the 1960s, Roger Revelle and Charles Keeling had proven Arrhenius’ estimate that if man made carbon dioxide continues to increase, the temperatures would continue to increase by the end of the 20th century. Not long afterward, the IPCC, the United Nations and the several scientific organizations such the World Meteorological Organization had announced that humans indeed contributed greatly to the growth of global warming and should action would not be done, the growing emissions and increased demand for energy would make a lasting impact to the ecosystem .
With the studies showing the high concentration of man-made global warming continuously picking its pace for the past few years, Farrar and Mastrandrea (2007) had observed that anthropogenic/man-made climate change would not just foster an increase in temperatures for the entire planet, but also impact the overall structure of the ecosystem and living standards. With the increase of temperatures, weather patterns would be affected as warmer temperatures could make natural weather instances such as typhoons, hurricanes and even storms double the intensity. Various species would also be forced out of their habitats with the removal of trees, natural land and sea formations and the increased in temperatures that would push down their breeding patterns. As a result of these severed weather patterns and the realignment of animal and plant habitats, the ecosystem would not be able to handle the constant need for food production, waste management, water purification, and biodiversity to continue as it would also have to keep up with man’s constant development of life. It is noted by research that anthropogenic climate change would also foster the increase of virus and disease for each living being in the planet . Dawson and Sapnnagle (2009) had also added that the ecosystem, due to man-made global warming, would also change the physical attributes of ecosystems throughout the globe as those from higher areas would experience hotter temperatures, removing chances of rain and increasing chances of flooding. Some areas would experience drought and severe tropical storms that would influence the people and the availability of potable and safe food and water supply.
Although the signs of man’s huge contribution to global warming is present and visible throughout each nation, skeptics still consider the idea of man being the major cause of global warming to be nothing more but a hoax to get people to consider other mediums to make their life easier; even stating that the global warming cycle is actually beneficial for mankind and must be allowed on its pace. Letcher (2009), in his study, had stated that climate change is a natural cycle that is caused by cosmic and space patterns that changes the overall temperature throughout the planet. Cosmic radiation, Letcher noted, had also been the cause of many of today’s erratic weather patterns throughout the globe . Aside from these natural causes of global warming, several samples have been announced by scientists that showcase the benefits of anthropogenic global warming and global warming in its entirety. Donovan (2008) had written that Michigan Technological University’s team from its Environmental Science division had discovered that there were an increase in productivity within the region’s forests. The increased in the overall temperature in the region, as well as the increase in nitrogen had enabled the trees to grow faster within the area. With the trees now strong enough to withstand the growing carbon dioxide throughout the area thanks to nitrogen concentrations, the impact of global warming is lessened considerably. Growing season also extends itself thanks to the high concentration of nitrogen and the warmer temperatures, enabling trees to meet their maturity .
While many would agree that those discoveries pertaining the benefits of global warming is a positive one, the negative impacts of global warming overweigh those benefits. Studies also show that anthropogenic global warming must be stopped immediately and in a long-term aspect as each year, carbon emission rates continue to increase and unless something is done, it is likely that the carbon dioxide concentrations throughout the globe would further enhance the temperature increases throughout the globe. In an article written by the Guardian (2011), 10 countries have recorded the highest contribution of CO2 emissions, leading to global warming. Leading the 10 nations is China with almost 7,711 million tonnes of carbon emission per year, steadily followed by the US and India. European nations like Russia, Germany and the UK are also included in the list with Japan, Canada, South Korea and. The analysis had indicated that while these nations had accepted the international and regional protocols on the reduction of carbon emissions in their territories, the lack of continuous adherence and action further indicates that these carbon emissions rates would increase each year . Continuous increase of carbon emission from these countries is likely to further reach out to other parts of the globe with small emissions and continue the growth of global warming.
Studies, aside from indicating the change in the ecosystem due to global warming, had also indicated the anthropogenic global warming actually impacts the physical capacity of mankind or other living organisms in sustaining these erratic changes. If action is not immediately done and maintained, there is a high possibility of mortality and lack of recovery within all walks of life. According to Karl, Melillo, Peterson and Hassol (2009), health is immediately affected by changes in the environment, especially as man nowadays would use items that contributes greatly to global warming such as aerosols, pesticides and greenhouse gas emitting appliances and energies. With the use of these items, it adds to the persistence of heat waves and storms throughout the globe, adding to the creation of highly dangerous allergens and diseases that still is a mystery to the public. It has been recorded that in the US alone, almost 12% of its population had shown signs of vulnerability due to the changing environment and the toxic composition of air, water, and food systems affected by the environment’s changes. Almost 3,400 deaths had already been on record since 1999 and Vidal (2009) had stated that the UN had recorded 300,000 deaths due to global warming for the past few years .
The UN had also reported that almost 300 million more people would be affected by global warming unless man is stopped from his activities that further strengthens global warming, recording that 500,000 deaths would be recorded in 2030 if nothing is done. Damages would even result up to $600 billion per year, both due to infrastructure damages and with health complications fostered by continues global warming. Kofi Annan himself, who, in the time of the article’s publishing, was the UN Secretary General, announced that it is likely that 20 million people would fall into depravity and poverty due to the scarcity of resources and the instability of the environment to foster sustainability. Annan had also stated that politicians themselves must be blamed for the ongoing impact of global warming since they continuously disregard its importance, making it an issue that takes second priority within their decision-making agenda. Without an immediate action and a fully-maintained system to ensure these action are continuously reducing the threat of man-made climate change, Annan stated that global warming would continuously destroy mankind’s way of living and slowly destroy the things that enables man to remain sustained with their needs. The UN currently has several people and organizations aiding in the fight against global warming, especially anthropogenic climate change. However, as far as its policies are concerned, nations are still 50-50% on its guidelines as some of them, like the United States, do not recognize these international standards such as the Kyoto Protocol . In this end, it is crucial to make changes within each country and organization to push for an immediate action against anthropogenic global warming since foregoing it, would result in a long-term dilemma that would no longer be resolved by simple precautionary measures.
The existence of anthropogenic climate change must not be taken lightly or disregarded completely even if it is painful to admit that man had indeed made a big contribution to the problem at hand. The severe and dangerous natural calamities, erratic weather patterns, high case of disease virulence and the slowly decreasing safe and sustainable ecosystems are major signs that anthropogenic global warming had made that much destruction to the planet, proving that it is crucial now to make long-term and immediate solutions to reduce further destruction. While there are some visible benefits of global warming in some instances, an immediate and long-term solution to reduce man-made global warming is crucial as reviving the ailing planet would take very long to recovery fully if nothing is done immediately. It is also crucial to resolve the problem of man’s influence to global warming since the hazards of man’s actions and utilization of chemicals and other greenhouse emitting items adds to the dangers already present. Beginning the recovery process now would enable the planet to revive slowly from the impact of climate change and man’s continuous actions on the planet. It is important for each person to work on the action to end the threat global warming has as the world’s lifespan and sustainability is at stake for the future.
References
Donovan, J. (2008, October 20). Climate Change, Acid Rain Could Be Good for Forests. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from Michigan Tech News/Media: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/news/media_relations/767/
Farrar, A., & Mastrandrea, M. (2007). Global Warming. Edina: ABDO Publishing Company.
Guardian UK. (2011, January 28). An atlas of pollution: the world in carbon dioxide emissions. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from Guardian UK: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/01/28/CarbonWeb.pdf
Karl, T., Melillo, J., Peterson, T., & Hassol, S. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Letcher, T. (2009). Climate Change: Observed Impacts on Planet Earth. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Pittock, B. (2009). Climate change: the science, impacts and solutions. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing.
Vidal, J. (2009, May 29). Global warming causes 300,000 deaths a year says Kofi Annan thinktank. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from Guardian UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/29/1
